Inspiring Celebrities Who Battled Breast Cancer Publicly

The Faces of Breast Cancer: 20 Inspiring Celebrities Who Battled the Disease

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, with about 1 in 8 women in the United States developing invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. Thanks to advances in screening and treatment, survival rates continue to improve, but a breast cancer diagnosis remains a life-altering experience for those affected.

Many celebrities have shared their personal breast cancer journeys in order to raise awareness and inspire others facing the disease. Their stories showcase the many different faces of breast cancer, from those diagnosed at an early age to those who thought they didn't have any risk factors.

Keep reading for inspiring stories of 20 celebrities who battled breast cancer in the public eye.

1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus

In September 2017, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, best known for her roles on Seinfeld and Veep, revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, she was 56 years old. She received tremendous support online using the hashtag #WeVeepTogether.

Louis-Dreyfus documented her treatments on social media. She underwent surgery and completed multiple rounds of chemotherapy. In October 2018, she announced she was cancer-free.

The actress told Kimmel in an interview, “The expectation is that it’s all wrapped up in a pink bow. The reality is that you deal with it for the rest of your life.” She said her goal now is to help others battling cancer.

2. Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate was just 36 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. She had an MRI that revealed early stage cancer in one breast. The actress decided to have a double mastectomy.

Applegate founded the nonprofit organization Right Action for Women to help pay for MRIs for women at high risk for breast cancer who couldn’t otherwise afford them. “Breast cancer is not just a genetic disease. No one, no one is immune to it,” she told CNN.

In August 2021, Applegate shared she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while filming the final season of Dead to Me. She vowed to fight on and live her best life in spite of MS and breast cancer.

3. Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow was 44 when she was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2006. She had a lumpectomy and radiation. After her recovery, Crow adopted two sons and advocated for breast cancer awareness.

In 2011, Crow had a benign brain tumor removed. As a breast cancer survivor, that meant closer screening to check for cancer recurrence. Crow decided to be extremely aggressive about testing. “I don’t want to live in fear or be a slave to maintenance,” she said.

Crow continues to urge women to get routine mammograms. “If caught early, the chances of survival with breast cancer are very, very high,” she said.

4. Melissa Etheridge

Grammy-winning singer Melissa Etheridge not only battled breast cancer, but did so while still at the height of her fame in 2005. She was 43 years old.

Etheridge discovered a lump in her breast and was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. She underwent a lumpectomy and chemo. “The feeling that my health was in my own hands appealed to me,” Etheridge told Everyday Health.

She urged women to find time for self-exams: “Your priorities have to shift. It’s amazing how long women—busy, busy women—can go without really looking at themselves. Once a month, I do a breast exam. And women should, too.”

5. Olivia Newton-John

Singer and actress Olivia Newton-John seemed to beat breast cancer, only to have it return even more advanced 25 years later. Newton-John was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 at age 43. She underwent chemotherapy and a partial mastectomy.

Newton-John remained cancer-free until a minor car accident in 2013 led to the discovery of a tumor in her shoulder. Then in 2017, she revealed her breast cancer had metastasized to her bones. As she battles Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, Newton-John helps other cancer patients through her wellness center in Australia.

6. Giuliana Rancic

Giuliana Rancic was just 36 years old when she was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2011. The E! News host found out she had cancer after a mammogram that was suggested by her fertility doctor.

Rancic underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. “While in most cases, the lumpectomy is an excellent option, in my case, the [cancerous] cells were so widespread that I had no choice but to do the mastectomy,” she explained.

Rancic urged women to be proactive about their breast health. “Even if you're 40 years old, you still need an annual mammogram,” she said. “You have to get serious about screening.”

7. Kylie Minogue

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue was on tour when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 at age 36. She underwent surgery and chemo, resulting in a brief hiatus before she resumed her singing and acting career.

Minogue has partnered with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre. “I really now see mine as a gift,” the singer said of her breast cancer journey. “I know that when someone gets diagnosed, that’s the last thing they want to hear...but I really have used mine to build myself up a bit more.”

8. Robin Roberts

Robin Roberts was beloved as a Good Morning America anchor when she announced in 2007 she had breast cancer at the age of 46. Roberts was treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Five years later, Roberts went public again with her diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood and bone marrow disease. She underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat MDS. After taking a leave from GMA to focus on her health, she returned to the show.

Roberts talks openly about both her breast cancer and MDS diagnoses to encourage others to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health. “You have to allow yourself to be helped and nurtured,” she said.

9. Cynthia Nixon

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon was 40 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. Her character on the show, Miranda, was coincidentally battling breast cancer at the same time.

Nixon decided to keep her diagnosis private and underwent radiation after having a lumpectomy. “I just didn’t want to talk about it,” she told Health. “Cancer is scary enough in itself.”

After her recovery, Nixon became an ambassador for the breast cancer foundation Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She encourages women to know their risk factors and get regular screenings.

10. Wanda Sykes

Comedian Wanda Sykes elected to have a prophylactic double mastectomy in 2011 after she was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) at age 47. DCIS is an early stage breast cancer where abnormal cells are found in the milk ducts.

Sykes has a family history of breast cancer. Her mother was diagnosed at age 40. “I had both breasts removed because now I have zero chance of having breast cancer,” she explained on Ellen.

Sykes said she is trying to adjust to her new body. “I went from being a B and sometimes a C cup, right? Now I'm a double long," she joked. "It's the new style, ladies. Flat and fabulous!"

11. Suzanne Somers

Actress and fitness icon Suzanne Somers was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 at age 53. She had a lumpectomy to remove the tumor and lymph node dissection to determine if the cancer had spread.

Instead of pursuing chemo or radiation, Somers decided to radically change her diet and lifestyle. Despite criticism from the medical community, her approach worked, and she remains cancer-free decades later.

Somers encourages women to seek options. "When diagnosed with cancer, you want to turn over every rock to find a cure. I believe integrative medicine plus standard-of-care is the best solution," she said.

12. Sandra Lee

Celebrity chef Sandra Lee rose to fame with her "semi-homemade" style of cooking. In 2015 at age 49, Lee was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in one of her breasts. She documented her experience in the HBO documentary Rx: Early Detection, A Cancer Journey with Sandra Lee.

Lee opted for a double mastectomy. She urged women to put their health first: “If you catch breast cancer early, the chances of survival are close to 100 percent. Take control of your life and don’t forget to take care of you, too.”

Lee also emphasized the importance of regular mammograms, conducting self-exams, and reducing alcohol intake and exposure to chemicals that may increase cancer risk.

13. Rita Wilson

Actress Rita Wilson received a shocking breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 at age 58 while performing on Broadway. She took a brief hiatus from the show Fish in the Dark to undergo a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

Wilson, married to actor Tom Hanks, returned to finish her run on Broadway in April 2015. She expressed gratitude for her health, family, faith in God, and all those who supported her journey.

Wilson reminded others to not ignore symptoms. “We all see ourselves as invincible, that cancer won’t happen to me. When I got the diagnosis, the last thing I thought of was me," she said.

14. Suzanne Pleshette

In the 1990s, actress Suzanne Pleshette was best known for playing the loving wife in The Bob Newhart Show. In 2006 at age 70, she was getting ready for a TV movie reunion when she noticed a lump under her arm.

Pleshette was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation, resulting in the loss of her trademark pageboy hairstyle. The cancer went into remission but returned in 2007.

Pleshette died in January 2008 from respiratory failure. In interviews after her diagnosis, she urged other women to get mammograms. “It’s the one diagnostic tool that really does save lives,” she said.

15. Richard Roundtree

Actor Richard Roundtree may be best known for his role as Shaft in the 1970s. In 1993 at the age of 51, he discovered he had male breast cancer after finding a lump on his chest.

Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for less than 1% of breast cancer cases. But it is still a risk, with an estimated 2,500 American men diagnosed every year. Risk factors include age, radiation exposure, and family history.

Roundtree decided to keep his diagnosis private while undergoing a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. He believes more awareness is needed that breast cancer does occur, although less frequently, in men.

16. Diahann Carroll

Iconic actress Diahann Carroll made history as the first African American actress to star in her own TV series. Later in life at age 63, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998.

Carroll decided to turn her diagnosis into an opportunity to raise awareness, especially among Black women. She was open about her treatment process of a lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

Research shows Black women under 45 have twice the risk of dying from breast cancer than other demographic groups, often due to lack of access to early screening. Carroll used her platform to speak out against healthcare disparities.

17.Jaclyn Smith

Jaclyn Smith was famous as one of Charlie's Angels in the original 1970s TV series. In 2002 at age 56, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after her gynecologist encouraged her to get a mammogram.

Smith underwent a lumpectomy and radiation. She had no signs or symptoms before her diagnosis besides the initial lump found on exam. After her recovery, Smith became a national spokeswoman for breast cancer screenings.

"The message to all women is: early detection is key,” she said. “Monthly self exams, mammograms, early detection - that's your plan of action."

18. Peter Criss

Kiss drummer Peter Criss co-founded the iconic rock band in 1973. Thirty years later at age 59, he was diagnosed with male breast cancer. After noticing a lump beneath his nipple, Criss underwent a mastectomy.

Following his recovery, Criss became actively involved in raising awareness. “Too many men ignore breast lumps or put off mammograms and ultrasounds until it's too late,” he said.

Criss recommended self-checks and bringing any lumps to a doctor’s attention. “Men ignore symptoms at their own peril,” he warned.

19. Edie Falco

In 2003, actress Edie Falco was at the height of her fame playing Carmela on The Sopranos when she was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer at age 40.

Falco kept her diagnosis private as she underwent chemotherapy and follow-up treatment. She decided to speak out about her cancer experience after her recovery to encourage women at risk to get screened.

Falco reminded others that breast cancer in younger women was more common than people realized. About 11 percent of all new cases occur in women under 45.

20. Kathy Bates

Veteran actress Kathy Bates revealed in 2012 that she was battling breast cancer after being diagnosed earlier that year at age 64.

Bates underwent a double mastectomy along with chemotherapy and lymph node removal. “Luckily, I don’t have to undergo radiation or chemo,” she told People after her surgery. “I’m very fortunate while many women who get breast cancer do have to have those treatments.”

Bates advocates to others that breast cancer treatment should be tailored to each individual case rather than following a generalized protocol.

Facing the Disease with Dignity

Despite the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, these 20 celebrities helped destigmatize breast cancer and exemplified facing it with courage, humor, and dignity. They used their positions to proactively encourage awareness, early detection, and personalized treatment.

Thanks to these influential women and men sharing their journeys, more individuals battling breast cancer can feel empowered to live their best life. Their stories showcase that while an unexpected diagnosis is frightening, the prognosis can be hopeful if the cancer is caught early and properly treated.

As advances in research and technology continue, breast cancer survivors like these celebrities will play a key role in mobilizing support and guiding others facing the disease. Their hard-won wisdom and advocacy provide inspiration to never give up hope.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.